Cushioning device



Dec. 1958 H. BRAMSON ET AL 2,365,435

CUSHIONING DEVICE Filed Dec. 28, 1955 wm W K M N im V R T #55 X5 4 .H wk W w j a fin States CUSHION IN G DEVICE Joseph H. Bralnson and Louis S. Sinykin, Minneapolis, Minn.

This invention relates to cushioning devices and more specifically relates to such devices which are enclosed within a covering of flexible sheet material.

Cushioning devices of the type specified are used for many different purposes. Some forms of such cushioning devices include seat and back cushions for upholstered chairs such as overstuffed chairs and davenports, mattresses and pads of various shapes and styles for all types of sleeping equipment and dual purpose seating .and sleeping furniture and bolsters and pillows used to supplement other types of cushions and mattresses used in furniture. It has been found that most of such cushioning devices have had distinct disadvantages. One such disadvantage is that the fabric cover surrounding the body of the cushion tends to move relative to the body when the cushion is compressed or deformed and then the atent O covering will not resume its original position relative t to the cushion body. Another such disadvantage lies in the fact that the welts present in the fabric covers of most cushioning devices tend to move away from their desired positions when the cushion body is compressed or deformed and the welts do not return to their original and desired position. As a result the welts will be crooked and therefore unsightly, and furthermore if the weltisdisplaced from the proper position, the fabric cover will be improperly stretched over the body of the cushioning device.

' An object ,of the invention is the provision of a new and improved cushioning device of simple and inexpensive construction and operation wherein the compressible cushion body and the covering will be maintained in a predetermined and substantially fixed position relative to each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel cushioning device which is constructed in such a manner that the covering will not be displaced relative to. the deformable cushion body when the cushion-body is compressed and then be permitted to resume its normal shape.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved cushioning device which is constructed in such a manner that the welts of the cover on the cushioning body will substantially continuously remain in a predetermined position relative to the body of the cushion and will, upon being deformed and displaced when the cushion body is compressed or otherwise deformed, return to the original desired position.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to simtion substantially as indicated at 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a detail section of a broken-away portion of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a detail section view of a broken-away portion of a further modification of the invention; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are detail elevation views taken in section on substantially vertical planes at 6-6 and 7--7 respectively of Fig. 5.

The cushioning device indicated in general by numeral 10 includes a cushioning body 11 and a cover 12. The body 11 of the cushioning device is constructed of a resiliently compressible material and in the form shown, the body i1 is constructed of a soft and durable foam latex, but it should be specifically understood that the body 11 could be formed of any resiliently compressible material including the various forms of syntheticsmixed with latex or synthetic material alone. As is conven tional in the forming of cushions of this type, the cushioning body 11 is molded in two halves 11a and 11b which are then placed face to face. and adhesively joined as at 11c. The body 11 includes a plurality of deep recesses 13 formed in each of the upper and lower halves thereof. The body 11 has an upper or top surface 14 which extends generally horizontally but is rounded to form a crown for the cushion in a manner which is substantially conventional to most cushion construction. The cushion body 11 also has side surfaces 15 which are upright and which extend around the periphery of the cushion body. The corner portion 16 between the top surface 14 and the upright side surface 15 is rounded.

Cover 12 is of conventional construction as iscommonly used with this type of cushioning device and is constructed of a suitable flexible and pliable .fabric sheet material. The cover 12 is formed of a number of panels ofsuch fabric including a top panel 12a and side panels 12b. The side panels-12b are connected to the top panel 12a in a conventional manner and are provided with a welt 17 having a cord 18 therein. The welt 17 is disposed in overlying relation with respect to the rounded corner portion 16 of the cushion body 11 between the top and side surfaces 14 and 15 respectively. The fabric covering 12 fits over the resiliently compressible body 11 in tight-fitting relation so that the cover 12 has substantially no slack in any portion thereof.

The outer surface of the body 11 is provided with a plurality of elongated and juxtaposed surface segments 19 in the rounded corner portion 16 which is disposed in underlying relation with respect to the welt 17. Adjacent surface segments 19 are inclined or sloped in different directions so as to define a plurality of elongated ridges or peaked protuberances in the rounded corner portion 16 of the cushion body. As best seen in Fig. 3, the adjacent ridge-defining surface segments 19 have different slopes with respect to each other and each of the ridges defined thereby has one side with a relatively gentle slope and the other side with a steep slope. The ridge-defining surface segments provide relatively sharp top edges on the ridgesdelined thereby. The surface segments 19 are formed in the described manner for several purposes, the most important of which is to restrict upward movement of the welt 17 of the cover 12 over the ridges and toward the top surface 14 of the body 11, and another important reason for forming the ridges in the described manner is to facilitate easy molding thereof. When the cushion 10 is deformed as by sitting on it, the-body 11 will be compressed and at least portions of the cover 12 will be pulled in one direction or another. The top panel 12a of the cover 12 will, of course, be depressed in substantial conformity with the deformation of the body 11 and the side panels 12b of the cushion will be deformed out of their normal shape and position in various manners depending upon which portion of the cushion is deformed. The welt 17 will, of course, tend to move with adjacent portions of the fabric cover 12, but the inner portions of the cover beneath the welt, and the welt, will be restricted from moving relative to the rounded corner portion 16 of the cushion body 11 so that when the weight is removed from the cushion so as to permit the body 11 to resiliently return to its original shape, the welt 17 will also return to its original position. The welt will not have moved in a transverse direction relative to body 11 and will return to its sub stantially straight position. Because the welt 17 is retained in the desired position, the cover 12 will also be retained in its normal position and will return to the normal position thereof after having been deformed with compression of the cushion.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 4, the body of the cushion is formed in the conventional manner as previously described and the fabric cover 26 is also substantially conventionally constructed and in close relation around the cushion body 25. Cover 26 is also provided with a conventional welt 27 which is disposed between the top panel 26a and the side panel 26b of cover 26. In this form of the invention the rounded corner portion 28 and the substantially upright side surface 29 of the cushion body 25 are provided with a plurality of elongated and juxtaposed surface segments 30. Adjacent surface segments 30 are inclined with respect to each other and are disposed at different slopes relative to each other and relative to the general contour of the cushion body 25 in a manner substantially identical to that previously described with regard to surface segments 19. In this form of the invention the ridges defined by surface segments 30 are in a band which extends around the entire rounded corner portion 28 and across the entire upright side surface 29 of the cushion body 25 and of course the band of ridges extends around the entire periphery of the cushion body 25.

When the cushion shown in Fig. 4 is compressed, the side panel 26b of the cover 26 along with the welt 27 thereof, will both be urged against the top edges of the ridges defined by surface segments 30 so as to provide a plurality of extremely high friction points between the outer surface of cushion body 25 and the fabric covering 26. Relative movement between the cover 26 and the cushion body 25 is thereby restricted. Because of the manner in which the ridges are formed with the differently sloped sides thereof, the welt 27 and cover panel 26b are held from moving upwardly and thereby permitting the existence of slack in the top panel 26a of cover 26.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 5, the cushion body is substantially similar in construction to that shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and the fabric covering 36 overlies and encloses the cushion body 35 in close-fitting relation. As previously described the conventional covering 36 is provided with a Welt 37. The rounded corner portion 38 which is disposed between the generally upright side surface 39 and the generally horizontal top surface 40 of cushion body 35, and the generally upright side surface 39, are provided with elongated and juxtaposed surface segments 41 formed in the manner previously described in connection with Fig. 4 so as to restrict relative movement between the welt 37 and the side panel 36a of the covering with respect to the cushion body 35.

In this form of the invention as best seen in Figs. 6 and 7 the generally horizontal top surface 40 of the cushion body 35 is provided with a plurality of u wardly and outwardly extending protuberances, or ridges 42 and which may be arranged in any suitable pattern but. in the form shown are arranged in a herringbone pattern. The ridges 42 are defined by a plurality of surface segments 43 and 44 which are inclined with respect to the general contour of the top 40 of body 35. In the form shown, the surface segments 43 have a substantially gentler slope than the steeply sloped segments 44; In

4 Figs. 6 and 7 it is seen that certain of the steeply inclined surface segments 44 which are disposed in one portion of the herringbone pattern face in one direction and other of the steeply sloped surface segments 44 in another portion of the herringbone pattern slope in another direction. Of course the inclined surface segments43 correspondingly slope in different directions in different portions of the herringbone pattern. This effectively gives the ridges direction or somewhat of a nap. In the operation of this form of the invention the juxtaposed ridges formed by surface segments 41 in the side and rounded corner portion of the cushion body 35 operate to restrict relative movement between the cover 36 and the cushion body 35 as previously described. The ridges 42 formed in the top 40 of cushion body 35 engage the fabric 36 at their upper edges so as to provide only a relatively small area of actual contact between the ridges and the fabric. Of course this concentrates the friction developed into a small area and thereby increases the movement-restricting effect upon the fabric cover 36. Because the steeply sloped surfaces 44 face in multidirections, the movement of the fabric covering is also restricted in multi-directions. It has been found that the movement-restricting effect upon the fabric cover is more pronounced when the fabric is urged toward the steeper of the sloped surface segments in the herringbone pattern. Because of the provision of the ridges 44 in the top 40 of the cushion body 35 and the ridges defined in the corner portion 38 and the upright side portion 39 of the cushion body 35, the covering 36 will be retained in substantially fixed position relative to the outer surfaces of the cushion body. Even though small portions of the cover are shifted in one direction or another relative to the cushion body, as by actual manual pulling of the covering when the cushion is deformed, the covering 36 will return to its normal position by the operation of portions of the fabric which are disposed in widely spaced relation with the moved or shifted fabric portions and which are retained by the effect of the ridges in the outer surface of the cushion body.

It will be seen that the invention has provided a new and improved cushioning device, wherein the fabric covering for the cushioning device is retained substantially continuously in the desired position on the cushion body by the ridges formed in the outer surface .of the cushion body and the covering will be returned to its normal position after a portion thereof is temporarily moved away or pulled from the cushion body.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and pro portions of the parts without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A cushioning device comprising a body constructed of a yieldable material, said body having a generally horizontal upper surface, said body also having an elongated rounded corner surface portion between said upper and side surfaces, said rounded corner surface portion having a plurality of elongated grooves and ridges formed therein and extending longitudinally thereof, a cover constructed of flexible sheet material and encompassing said body, said cover having an elongated welt overlying said corner surface portions and extending longitudinally of the grooves therein, whereby said grooves and ridges will restrict transverse movement of said welt.

2. A cushioning device comprising a body constructed of resiliently compressible material, said body having surface portions defining a top and sides, said surface porti ns having a pluralitv of juxtaposed and outwardly projecting ridges formed therein and being closely spaced from each other in relation to the overall dimensions of said surface portions, said ridges extending in multidirections and defining cover-engaging outer edges, and

, a cover constructed of flexible sheet material and enclosing the body in tight-fitting relation so as to fit closely on the edges of said ridges and be restricted thereby from slipping relative to the body, and particularly when the body is compressed and deformed and the cover is correspondingly deformed.

3. A cushioning device comprising a body of resiliently compressible material, said body having surface portions defining a top and sides, a cover constructed of a flexible fabric material enclosing said body in close-fitting relation, said surface portions including a plurality of juxtaposed and adjacent surface segments of minute width in relation to said surface portions, said adjacent surface segments being inclined in different directions to define a plurality of upstanding ridges, and adjacent ridge-defining surface segments having steep and gradual slopes relative to each other whereby to increase the restriction to movement of the fabric covering relative to the body in a direction toward said ridge-forming surfaces of relatively steep slope.

4. A cushioning device comprising a body constructed of a resiliently compressible material, said body having surface portions defining a top and sides, a covering constructed of a pliable fabric material and enclosing said body in close-fitting relation, said surface portions of said body including a plurality of juxtaposed surface segments, adjacent surface segments being inclined in different directions and thereby facing different directions .to define aplurality of outwardly extending ridges, said adjacent ridge-defining surface segments having steep and gradual slopes relative to each other, and certain of said steeply sloped surfaces facing in one direction and certain other of said steeply sloped surface segments facing in another direction, whereby movement of the fabric covering relative to the surface portions of the body will be restricted in multi-directions.

5. A cushioning device comprising a body constructed of a resiliently compressible material, said body having surface portions defining a top and sides, a cover constructed of flexible fabric sheet material and enclosing said body in tight'fitting relation, said cover having an elongated welt encircling the periphery of the top of said body, said surface portions having a plurality of elongated and juxtaposed grooves and ridges formed therein in underlying relation relative to said welt and said sides of said body having a plurality of grooves and ridges formed in the surface portions thereof, whereby to restrict movement of the cover and welt relative to the surface portions of the body.

6. A cushioning device comprising a body constructed of a resiliently compressible material, said body having a generally horizontal top surface and also having an upright side surface, a cover constructed of pliable fabric material in tight-fitting relation, said cover having an elongated welt encircling the periphery of the top surface of said body, said body having a plurality of juxtaposed grooves and ridges formed in the surface thereof in underlying relation relative to said welt and adjacent thereto, and a plurality of upstanding ridges having upper edges formed in said top surface whereby to engage the fabric covering overlying said top surface and restricting movement thereof relative to said body.

7. A cushioning device comprising a body constructed of a resiliently compressible material, said body having a generally horizontally disposed top surface and also having an upright surface, a cover constructed of pliable fabric material and enclosing said body in tight- 'fitting relation, said body having a plurality of closely spaced and peaked protuberances formed in the top surface thereof, whereby when said cover is pressed inwardly and the body is compressed, friction between said peaked protuberances and said cover restricts relative movement therebetween.

8. A cushioning device comprising a body constructed of a resiliently compressible material, said body having a generally horizontal upper surface and also having upright side surfaces, a cover constructed of flexible sheet material and enclosing said body in tight-fitting relation, said side surface having a plurality of outwardly extending and peaked protuberances formed therein whereby to engage the cover and restrict relative movement of said cover and said body adjacent the side surfaces of the body when the same is compressed and deformed.

9. A cushioning device comprising a body constructed of a resiliently yieldable material and having an outer surface defining a generally horizontal top and an upright side and also defining a rounded corner portion between said top and side, a plurality of elongated and juxtaposed surface segments formed in said rounded corner portion, adjacent surface segments being inclined in different directions to define a plurality of ridges in said rounded corner portions, and said adjacent ridge-defining surface segments having steep and gradual slopes relative to each other, a cover constructed of a pliable fabric material and enclosing said body in tight-fitting relation, and said cover having an elongated welt overlying the rounded corner portion of said body, whereby movement of said welt relative to said body is restricted to a high degree in a direction toward said steeply sloped ridge-defining surface segments.

10. A cushioning device comprising a body constructed of a resiliently compressible material, said body having a generally horizontal upper surface and also having an upright side surface, a cover constructed of a pliable fabric material and enclosing said body in tight-fitting relation, said cover having an elongated welt disposed between said surfaces, said body having a band of outwardly extending peaked protuberances underlying said welt and adjacent thereto whereby to restrict relative movement of said welt when said body is compressed and the cover is deformed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,194,364 Minor Mar. 19, 1940 2,315,391 Blair Mar. 30, 1943 2,761,493 LenZ Sept. 4, 1956 2,788,061 Pedrocchi Apr. 9, 1957 

